Zambia

A vast plateau, Zambia is bordered by Angola to the west, Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique to the south-east, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia to the south-west. The Zambezi River together with Lake Kariba, forms the frontier with Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls, at the western end of the man-made Lake Kariba, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The magnificent Luangwa and Kafue National Parks have one of the most prolific animal populations in Africa.

Many Zambia safaris visit South Luangwa National Park, which contains 60 animal species and hundreds of bird species or Lower Zambezi National Park, a pristine wilderness also home to a wide variety of wildlife. Travelers on Zambia safaris might stay in tented camps along the tranquil shores of Lake Kariba, visit local villages to learn about Zambia's traditional ways of life, or explore Livingstone Town, known as the "Adventure Capital" due to its proximity to Victoria Falls. Described by the Kololo tribe in the 1800s as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" -- "the smoke that thunders" -- the falls plummet more than 100 meters into the Zambezi Gorge below, creating a thundering curtain of water. At the height of flood season, 546 million cubic meters of water per minute soar over the basalt cliffs.

Zambia safaris are available year-round, and three distinct seasons provide visitors with different perspectives depending on the time of travel. The roads are best for traveling during the cool, dry season (May through August). Victoria Falls is most impressive toward the end of the rainy season (December to April), though the thick spray can impede viewing of the intricate rock formations and gorges. The entire scope of the falls is best viewed when the water level is lowest, at the end of the hot, dry season (September to November). Though bird viewing is better in the rainy season, a smaller number of accommodations are available, and areas such as Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa can be impassable due to bad road conditions. In these areas, game viewing is best in the dry months of June through October.